In Search of a Winning Trail, Reeling Rockets Return Home to Face Blazers
The Rockets return home, back to Toyota Center on Tuesday night, to take on another competitive Western Conference foe, the Portland Trailblazers. Houston hopes some home-cooking will turn the season around. The squad is coming off a winless, 3-game road-trip, including a few heartbreaking losses. The Rockets were more than capable of winning those games. They were given an ample amount of opportunities to grab a W on the trip, but the team simply couldn’t manage to close games when it mattered most. Hopefully, the friendly confines of Toyota Center will bring Houston some much-needed success. A season hangs in the balance tomorrow night. Portland is currently riding a two-game winning streak. They have the usual suspects in play tomorrow night, including one of the league’s most talented backcourts in Rocket-killer Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. The Rockets have the league’s best backcourt, even though Chris Paul is nearing the end of his prime. Hopefully CP3 and the MVP will show the best aspects of their craft and finally close a game and lead Houston to a win in their most important game of the season. Lost this one, and Houston’s in a real hole. The Rockets record currently stands at 11-14. Houston can’t afford to fall 4 games below .500, further deeper down the rabbit hole, if they truly want to save their season. The Rockets keep saying they have time to turn things around, but time is running out with each passing dismal performance. Tuesday night, Houston has an opportunity to take the first step toward turning things around against a Blazers team that always plays well in Houston. The Rockets need to show some fight. The squad needs to show some fight. They should be ready, they’ve heard the talk and the noise, and it’s time they start proving that they’re a Championship contender. A victory over last year’s 3-seed in the West would be a solid start. The Rockets can’t afford to enter Thursday’s showdown with LeBron and the Lakers on a 4-game losing streak. One of the handful of teams battling for position in the playoff standings, Portland will be a tough out, but Houston has more than enough talent to get the job done. They just need to show a little more heart. Toyota Center should be pumping on Tuesday night, and the Rockets have won 5 of their last 6 games at home. Everyone needs to get on board for Houston. The captains, Harden and Paul need to step up, and everyone else needs to anchor the boat forward. Now is the time to finally right the ship. It’s lift-off time, Houston. The Rockets need to start blazing their own path up the standings. Not Thursday against the Lakers, that’s too late. Tomorrow night, against Portland, otherwise the season on this ship may have sunk. And that winning trail, the one the Rockets keep insisting they’ll find, just might be out of sight.
Toyota Center – Houston, Texas
Jersey Colors:
Portland Trailblazers (15-11) – White
Houston Rockets (11-14) – Black
TV: 7 PM CT – NBA TV, ATT Sportsnet